I find that listening to music enhances just about every activity - preparing dinner, walking to work, creating embroidery and even cleaning the bathroom.  As someone in a Disney film said, just hum a little tune.  Increasingly, I find that I am reading and writing, which isn't compatible with listening to most music.  I get distracted singing along to Erasure or trying to decipher the lyrics from songs by The National.  Between what I'm reading or writing and what I'm hearing, there are to many words in my head. Clearly, I don't own enough instrumental music. 

But I have found something that works just as well: music sung in a foreign language.  It provides the background, but I don't get caught up on the lyrics, as I don't another language well enough to really try.  Seeking out music from around the world has opened ... well a whole new world of sounds and expressions of emotion. 

Here are some (there are many more, it was hard to whittle down a list that fits on a single CD) of my favorites.

1. Me Llaman Calle - Manu Chao
2. M'bifé - Amadou & Mariam
3. Dikiy Muzhchina - Leningrad
4. Vilaines Filles, Mauvais Garcons - Stereo Total
5. Barra Barra - Rachid Taha
6. Gamen (Vulture) - Garmarna
7. I'm Coming - Rain
8. Bole Chudiyan - from the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
9. Keyrum Yfir Ísland - Sprengjuhöllin
10. Podemos Hacernos Daño - Juanes
11. Hong Mo Fang - Jay Chou
12. Sin Documentos - Julieta Venegas
13. Yalla Chant - Natacha Atlas
14. Seeing Hands - Dengue Fever
15. Her og nu - Aud Wilken
16. 催眠 - Faye Wong
17. À L'ombre De La Lune - Françoise Hardy
18. Yer Bounda Fara - Ali Farka Touré
19. Um Tom - Caetano Veloso
20. Zhaoderen Nana - Hanggai
21. Phonobaloon Song - Takako MineKawa

My sister had twins a year ago.  It's amazing how those months have passed.  My little nieces went from tiny inanimate bundles to toddlers in such a short period of time.  As far as I'm concerned, this is when they start being fun.  They're mobile, interested in the world and starting to communicate.  They have started to like music and will find any opportunity to dance.  The problem my sister pointed out to me is that most of the music for toddlers is unbearably annoying. Did I know of any music that's suitable for children that won't drive parents batty?

After thinking about it, and consulting my music collection, I came up with an answer: yes, loads.  What kids respond to isn't necessarily the saccharine message and squeaky voices.  Kids (like me) like something catchy, with a simple melody that they can dance to.  Everything that I have learned about children tells me one thing: kids love punk rock.  Now, of course you don't necessary want your kids singing along with every punk rock song (Bodies by the Sex Pistols and a number of Misfits songs immediately come to mind as particularly inappropriate).  But the basic 1-2-3-4 beat, derived from roots rock that appears in punk and indie rock definitely fits the bill.  To mix it up, New Wave songs offer keyboard sounds that inspire giggles. And who doesn't love an anthem? 

So I put together this compilation, for the girls' first birthday party.  They weren't the only ones dancing.

1. Happy Birthday - Altered Images
2. I Wanna Be Like You - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
3. Nee Nee Na Na Na Na - Dicky Doo & The Don'ts
4. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
5. Shake Shake Baby - American Teens
6. Pretty Baby - Blondie
7. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy - Julie London
8. Ice Cream - Sarah McLachlan
9. Earth Angel - Penguins
10.  Real Wild Child - Ivan
11. Birdhouse In Your Soul - They Might Be Giants
12. ABC - The Jackson 5
13. Stay Up Late - Talking Heads
14. I'm A Hog for You Baby - The Innocents
15. Up & Down - Supernova
16. Baby, I Love You - Ramones
17. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da - The Police
18. Here I am baby - UB40
19. Twist And Crawl - The English Beat
20. Maybe Baby - Buddy Holly
21. Tiny Dancer - Elton John
22.  Only Have Eyes For You - The Flamingos
23. Birthday Gal - The Replacements

A few months ago,  I started a project -  a pet portrait of the beloved cat Neo.  I was given a photo of Neo playing in the snow.  I quickly started the project, giving myself a close deadline.  As I worked, I thought about the image.  The composition was great, the image playful, but as I worked on the background something didn't seem quite right.  As I thought about it, and as I realized that it was a portrait, more than just an image of a cat playing in the snow, I decided to start again.  A portrait, in my head is something more personal - I wanted to capture more of his expression, more detail in his face. 

I liked the version I had, but put it aside to create something a little more personal.  Once the project was finished though, I couldn't let the original sit unfinished.  So here it is. And now that it's finished, I can't decide which version I like more.  The portrait definitely captured more of his expression, this one is the essence of a tuxedo cat.  Caught in the moment, he possesses a noble quality.

It is hand-sewn as a counted cross-stitch on 22-count needlepoint cloth.  Although I made the pattern for a cross-stitch, it is done as a tent stitch as the weave of the cloth is so small.  Finished, it measures 4.5"x5"

This embroidery painting can be purchased through Etsy.

photo by Kelly KingmanI can't remember another summer that kept me this busy.  Between weddings, reunions, birthday parties and vacations I've been running around the country. Now, don't get me wrong I'm having a blast, but it's left precious little time to catch up on my own stuff.  My desk look like the aftermath of a craft store explosion; once voluminous with my writing, I can't fill a twitter post; sewing projects are piling up; other artistic ideas are earmarked by quick vague sketches passing as shorthand on notes I hope to someday decipher.  The basic needs are met, laundry gets done and groceries somehow fill my cabinets.  But I really am down to the basics. 

When time it at a minimum, the first item to fall off my to-do list is the gym.  I know people who get to the gym several times a week without thinking about it.  I have tried to be one of these people, but it just doesn't happen.  During the cold of the winter and the excitement of spring, I somehow managed to stick to a routine.  Saying I enjoyed it would be a stretch, but I went.  But as soon as the travel plans started and the temperature started to soar, my resolve left.  In this heat I'm sweating when I sit still, the idea of doing it on purpose seems ludicrous.

With all of the road trips and plane rides, one hobby hasn't fallen to the wayside: making compilations.  Playing DJ at parties, soundtracking road trips and making gifts has churned up some old favorites and provided new songs to bond with.  As the travel winds down, I need something to lure me back to the gym.  So I crafted something that ensures my body will get moving. If I don't make it to the gym, this is sure to inspire a few impromptu dance parties in my kitchen. 

As I celebrate the end of the summer, the events that fill it and even just the day-to-day (like going to the gym), here are the songs that make sweating fun.

1. We Want The Airwaves - Ramones
2. Gold Guns Girls - Metric
3. Common People - Pulp
4. Love Of The Common People - Paul Young
5. Iko Iko - Belle Stars
6. O.N.E. - Yeasayer
7. Cobrastyle - Robyn
8. Mauja Hi Mauja - Pritam
9. Acapella - Kelis
10. Now That We Found Love - Heavy D & The Boyz
11. Jungle Love  - The Time
12. Boops (Here To Go) - Sly & Robbie
13. I'm Free - The Soup Dragons
14. Step On - Happy Mondays
15. Clap Your Hands - Sia
16. Victim Of Love - Erasure
17. Remember (Walkin' In The Sand) - The Shangri-Las
18. D.J. - David Bowie
19. Fire with Fire - Scissor Sisters